The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-08
GENERAL GRANTS DAUGHTER.
Vivid Description of Her English Home and
Its RestfuI Surroundings.

/ Frank Burr, in Boston Herald.
Hardly a lannon's shot from this dull Englis]
| seaport Northampton Mrs. Algernon Sartori
| Nellie Grant, lives On the opposite side o
the river from the struggling outlines of this OLE
town she has charming summer home. 1t is
| delightful place, not only for its mistress ans
master, but for its complexion and associations
1t is filled with curious relics of the past anG
interesting views of the present. Good tast,
and the evidences of refinement are everywhere
1t is the place in which to study the bette
phases of quiet English life. Both the mistress
and master are interesting people. and no Wis
itor catches the atmosphere of this place bu
that this fact Is soon made manifest
This afternoon, as the Dutch steamer from
Bremen drew into the waters of the Handle
which wash the acres of this striking abode
Mrs. Sartoris put out in rowboaJ to board It
She was accompanied by the elder Sartoris, who
bid her affectionate farewell as she reached
the deck of tie ship. Here was embarkatiou
at ones own door, and it was the beginning OF
Nellie Grants first trip to America in two years.
She says she will return before the severe
weather of the late fall sets in; but the charms
OF her native land may possibly be sufficient to
keep her longer. Vivian, her eldest daugh ter
and second child. sails with her. She is a beau
tiful girl, the image of her mother as she can be
recalled when she first entered the White House
when her father became President Algerpon,
her eldest son. is now a boy of ten years; the
little girl who goes with her to America is eight
and Rosa, the youngest, is six An interesting
little group this mother and children make.
Mr.. Sartoris. the elder, is very fond of his
daughter-in-law, and smooths her path with
much tenderness When Nellie las everyone
calls her) Is home there Is delightful family
circle in this old mansion. Yet, Nellie Grants
place on the Southampton waters is not a palace
or a great house like Bienheim or Badminton;
but 1t is home full of restfulness and crowned
with beauty The house stands hard by the
splendid country road which follows the banks
of the river and the acres which surround it
are washed by the waters OF the Handle river,
which gives Southampton it's harbor. To
the right and the left of it all is beauty
and grandeur. Both sea and land dotted
xryIAI n ~
and typifying the alert present Great castles,
with their lovely grounds and woudrous his
tories, every hand Across the waters of
the Solelt is Osborne House, the Queens sum-
mer palace, with it's broad park, comfortable
shade and aristocratic surroundings. Norris
Castle adj joins it with MEN, and with ira
ditons that are beyond my descriptive powers.
1t is next to the Queens present residence:
but she lived there nearly sixty years ago. and
many OF the happiest of her girlhood days were
spent in the grove and on the lawn. which slopes
gently down to the waters which carry the
SWEETEST yacht feet that sails in any part of
the world. Strange that this old ruin should be
rebuilt by Mr. Bell, the editor of Bells Life. the
great sporting paper of all England. The Crown
Prince of Germany has lived there most of this
summer.
TO the right of Nellie Grants home Cowes can
be seen, with its harbor full of sailing yachts,
and the richest pleasure crafts of all descriptions
The boats of royalty, Albert and Victoria. which
carry the Queen. and the osborne which is at
the bidding of the Prince OF Wales, lay at anchor
in these waters. The reigning house of Britain
sails in and OUT of this harbor every day when
In this locality In the yellow-painted and
lously -decked crafts. which called royal
yachts. Beautiful boats they are and gorgeously
fitted up Both of them carry crews equal to
that on an ocean steamer that has the capacity
of a thousand souls. They are kept constantly
In commission to do the bidding of the sovereign
and her son. In these waters, too, tho Royal
Yacht Club has its home, and the swell races
between the boats and other phases of high So
cial life make things very fashionable and lively
about here. But social life, as the world knows
and teels it in this locality, does not interrupt
the even tenor of the Sartoris home There are
hyde Esplan and Southsea, two famous sum-
mer places along the beach like our Far Rocka-
way, and all within easy sight sail of the
quiet place toward which I hope 60 direct the
readers attention.
Nellie Grant is the mistress OF this home now
for the elder Mrs. Sartoris is dead The master
is the father of the singular son who married
wore great name. The husband, having large
interests in Wales, is rarely at home.
and the father devotes himself to the
care of his sons children, and his
yife's happiness. The elder Sartoris is man
II culture and refinement, devoted to music.
painting and literature. He has means. and not
Ind refinement, but with those who deal in the
iner touches of existence. His dauehter-in-law
therefore, lives in an atmosphere of pleasures of
he higher order. There are rich paintings in
he halls and on the parlor walls; music of every
description in the drawing rooms, end books of
he rarest quality in the library. The farm is
In ample one, well latQ out ana well cultivated.
The house is an old, old building, with two CEN
uries of history about it. The proprietor has |
ldded some new features to the architecture of |
he main building, and 1t is ample now to house |
he great troop OF friends which come |
frequently here to enjoy the good taste Of the |
proprietor The grounds are beautifully laid |
ut and decorated. There are acres and acres of |
avn and pasture. and many acres of |
lowers. shrubbery and shade. Graveled walks /
cad in and out between the great trees, which |
IN IN every direction and tasteful flower beds |
Nforr -EN1a rl1 e., 81.
The old-fashioned primrose and pink. with other
lowers SO we'll remembered in dear old America,
arnish every part of the lawn. and are so |
uided that they make up quaint illustrations of |
oW beautifully colorS may be com bined.
Sewers OF evergreen are here and there. Over
ooking the waters there is one where trailing |
ines have been guided over an archway of wire,
nd the climbing Ivy has been colored with a
wealth of flowers, which peep out cunningly |
rom the dark green leaves of the climbing
liant In the center of this beautiful resting
lace is a Venetian we'll. brought from the
reamy country by the Elder Sartoris who has |
cen great traveller. From the depths of this
harming Importation cool water is drawn by
n ancient device reminding of the 'old |
ak en- bucket which hung in the WE'LL
'All this is beautiful, but it is aimless." said
ne mistress to me when speaking of these won
erful sights, and their romantic and dramatic
istory. Sometimes hardly know whether it
real or dream, it different from any |
1ing you know of in America; yet have grown
cry fond of this delightful country and these |
leasant customs. It is thirteen years since l
anne to England to live, but time has passed so
Witty thatit does not seem so long Naturally
think great deal about the United States,
II all my family are there; and no matter what
1anges one makes in life thoughts of our ma
We land will frequently crowd into our refiec-
ons. My recoilections of my early home in
merica are very dear to me: but yet the re-
possibilities of later life bring their reward as
ell. My girlhood life was delightful. and
very one in America was exceedingly kind to
q. think inherited my fathers dislike for
1litcs, for. although / went into the White
ouse girl, never took any interest in pollti
Il conditions, and l have followed the same
lie since have been in England.
II Go not recall many of the ladies who were
aders in Washington society when my father
as President, for was too young to know them
timately, and girl associates OF my own age |
ere not numerous. 1 recall what a beautiful
oman Blanche Butler was. who married Gen
al Ames; she handsome and refined.
ate Chase Sprague was very queenly woman.
ISIS Minnie Chandler who married Senator
ugene Hale, another of the interesting
rls OF that period when life was just beginning
be real to me. How wonderfully things have